Youngstown State University Baseball Camps

Facilities and Directions

The Watson and Tressel Training Site (WATTS) was announced in the summer of 2007 when the Tressel and Watson Families presented the University with a $1 million donation.

This indoor facility is vital to the future success of the YSU athletic department. The facility will provide the most critical ingredient to meet the challenges presented by the opportunity of playing nationally-recognized competition.

The seasonal facility will accommodate athletic team practices, intramural sports, campus-wide activities and special events benefiting students, faculty, staff and the community - especially during the fall, spring and harsh winter months.

Soccer, men’s and women’s track and field, baseball, softball and football would have the ability to practice in a safer, more comfortable environment. The facility also provides a significantly prolonged practice season to meet the challenge of the elevated level of competition YSU seeks to embrace.

In addition, the WATTS will serve as a community resource - providing a large, climate-protected venue for local youth organizations and high schools.

Utilization would benefit other campus constituencies as well. ROTC, intramurals and other student activities could now be engaged year round. Similarly, YSU can host numerous scholastic and community events that would equally benefit from the facility.

This $12.3-million project was seen as a public/private partnership in that the construction costs would be sought through private philanthropy.

Eastwood Field

Eastwood Field The Youngstown State baseball team shares Eastwood Field with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the New York-Penn League.

While the Penguins call the field home from March through May, the Scrappers, who are the short-season minor-league affiliate for the Cleveland Indians, play 38 home games each summer from mid-June through early September.

Eastwood Field, a 6,300-seat open-air stadium, was completed in 1999 and was originally named Cafaro Field in honor of the late Cafaro Company Founder, William Cafaro. With furnished locker rooms, sheltered batting cages and a new state-of-the-art Daktronics ProStar LED video board, the facility ranks among the best in the region.

In May 2004, Eastwood Field served as the venue for the Horizon League Baseball Championship. YSU swept through the tournament with a perfect 4-0 record to earn its first ever conference championship and trip to the Division I NCAA Regional.

Eastwood Field is no stranger to postseason play as the Scrappers played host to playoff games in 1999, 2000 and 2004.

The Scrappers will be playing their eighth season in the stadium this summer while YSU is playing its seventh this spring.

In addition, Eastwood Field has played host to musical performances featuring Nelly, Kenny Rogers, Nickelodeon's Musical Fest, Ja Rule, The Village People, Kool and the Gang, LFO, B*WITCHED, The Kinley's and 98 Degrees.

Directions

From the northwest (Cleveland, Toledo): Take Ohio Turnpike to Exit 218. Follow I-80 East to I-680, Youngstown. Take Exit 4A, Route 422 East and proceed to the Wick Avenue exit. Turn right onto Wick Avenue. Turn right again at the first light (Alumni House is on the right) onto University Plaza and enter the F-1 visitors’ parking lot.

From the north (Ashtabula): Take Route 11 South to the intersection with I-80. Follow signs for Route 711 South. Exit at Gypsy Lane and make a left onto Gypsy. Cross Belmont Ave. (Rt. 193); at the fourth traffic light after Belmont, turn right onto Fifth Ave. Drive down Fifth until you get to Rt. 422 (look for the YSU stadium), then cross the overpass and turn left onto the Eastbound Service Road, staying on the service road as you pass the stadium. Cross the Elm Street intersection, then turn right onto Wick. Make a right at the next light (Alumni House is on the right) onto University Plaza and enter the F-1 visitors’ lot.

From the east (western Pennsylvania): Take I-80 to Route 711 South (Exits left). Exit at Gypsy Lane and make a left onto Gypsy. Cross Belmont Ave. (Rt. 193); at the fourth traffic light after Belmont, turn right onto Fifth Ave. Drive down Fifth until you get to Rt. 422 (look for the YSU stadium), then cross the overpass and turn left onto the Eastbound Service Road, staying on the service road as you pass the stadium. Cross the Elm Street intersection, then turn right onto Wick. Make a right at the next light (Alumni House is on the right) onto University Plaza and enter the F-1 visitors’ lot.

From the southeast (Pittsburgh): Take the PA Turnpike to Exit 234 (16A) on the Ohio Turnpike. From there, take I-680 approximately 10 miles to Exit 6 (Route 62 and Hubbard). Follow signs for YSU and take Route 422 West. Take the first Exit (Wick Avenue) and turn left on Wick. At the second light (Alumni House is on your right) make a right on to University Plaza and enter the F-1 visitors’ lot.

From the south: Take Ohio Route11 North to I-680. From I-680, take Exit 4A, Route 422 East. Exit the freeway at Wick Avenue and turn right on Wick. Turn right again at the first light (Alumni House is on the right) onto University Plaza and enter the F-1 visitors’ parking lot.

From the west (Akron): Take I-71 or I-77 to I-76 East. Where I-80 and I-76 divide, follow I-80 until it intersects with I-680 to Youngstown. Follow I-680 to Exit 4A, Route 422 East. Exit the 422 freeway at Wick Avenue and turn right. Turn right again at the first light (Alumni House is on the right) onto University Plaza and enter the F-1 visitors’ parking lot.